High tech, Low tech, and entertainment review and demo. 高科技，低科技和娛樂？ 評論,示範, 討論。
Travel, Trips
My co-worker and I decide to go somewhere near to camping around the city, since it’s short 2 day trip, we went there, cooked, eat and left, but it’s pretty good to camp with co-workers. Anyway here it the pictures.
My Co-worker and I decide to go to snowboarding, so we packed up and go to big bear. Once arrive, we snowboard (also broke my Canon S410), and have lot fun, but this is not about that, it’s about the truck handling the snow….
And it’s perfect, even when Audi A4 have some issue due to tires, the tundra still in perfect traction due to off-road tires. This is wonderful trip.
Every thing just looking great, there are two vehical went there, one of them is A4 AWD and other one is my Tundra 4WD. The drive to the Big Bear is great, we have great time.
Half way through the mountain, we starting to see some snow on the side, which is not too big deal, there are no snow falling from the sky, so we just continue on, but there are a lot of cars due to “Snow Chain Required” sign popped out. But we are okay, AWD & 4WD have no problem, no need for snow chain It’s fun to pass other cars & truck on the side putting on the snow chains.
Then we went to snow boarding and get some dinner. Some of us get tired early, and we all went to sleep pretty quick. Next morning we clear the area and love the snow falls.
That Undrecover Tonneau really shines, everything in there still dry, but really cold in there. at least there are no moisture in the truck bed.
We happily drive down the mountain 29and went home.
Continue from yesterday, which was a blast, so I am totally ready to have a wonderful full days of driving around.
Wake up around 7, because we are going at 9, so I am not in a hurry. I went to check out the Inn and find Tom. He did the Bubble test for me, which my visibility seems like worse than the FJ cruiser since my truck is a full size. By the time we finished, there are others who comes in, so we start on other stuff before we officially hit the trails. Just in case, here are some links.
After we get off the wash, we get up the road, and went to a gas station for filling up air for tires and inspect the damages to the vehicles.
Damages to my vehicle:
Bent my driver side tube
full scratches on both side, mostly can be buffed off
Rear bumper has some damage, but not major
Scratches under front bumper, but unable to fully seem
Scratches on the sides of all 4 tires
Changes needed in the future:
New tires- BFGoodrich AT KO
New running board ( don’t really go hard core off-road so I would like to have more stepping area)
Opinion:
This is great class, I think for most beginner people who want learn how to properly off road would learn a lot from the class. This is perfect class to know how to wheeling properly with minimum damage to your vehicle and environment. I been off-road on and off for last ten years, which I had never drive off-road like this, and learned so much with my class. I highly recommend this classes.
Links to other useful sites:
Anza-Borrego state park website
Bill Burke’s 4-Wheeling America
Here we go again:
Since everyone is doing okay we skipped lunch and we decide to go ahead. So we go to more advance area where there are more difficult terrains around, especially we only have 3 vehicles which there are more grounds we can cover and go for more different route than at hungry valley.
There are a lot of people going Off-road, many people learned by experience, some by trial & error, and some are learned by wheeling with experienced driver. For me, since I like drive off-road and do go off-road once in a while. But frankly, I am a really bad driver, on road and off road, and I figure maybe take a class will be beneficial for me and my vehicle.
After in depth research on the web and forums, many hour of comparison and carefully compared. Few are available in southern California, especially with time & budget constrict. There are two that are standout :
Badlands Off Road Adventure – Find that from fellow TundraSolutions member
Bill Burke’s 4-Wheeling America– Read from 4WD Toyota owner magazine which he was the editor
The Badlands Off Road Adventure by Tom Severin was chosen due to budget, location, and availability.
I registered the Basic Clinic for Sept. 20th, which he contacted me to notify me about equipment, and some safety information, Release of waiver of liability, survey of vehicle form, and some other forms. Few days before the event, there are some fire near hungry valley CA, so he had to move the class to Anza Borrego with brand new schedule, and since I am going to stay there, I signed up for second day too. I arrived on Friday night atPalm Canyon Inn at Borrego Spring at 9 Friday morning, because the lecture class was hosting there Saturday morning at 7:30.
I drove there after work on Friday the 29th, which it’s excellent drive. There is not too much traffic for Friday afternoon at 5 south (in California), get on 76 on Oceanside, 70, S2, and than S22. On the way down S22 which was a stretch of road coming down to Borrego Spring (next to Anza Borrego), there are no one on the road, so I was driving very slowly with window down. It’s not too warm, and the weather is just lightly warm with distant light around the Borrego Spring, and it’s great with light dry wind in the cabin. The Palm Canyon Inn are just at exit of the S22, which I checked in and to the room and get to sleep for early day tomorrow.
Waked up a little early, but since I was new at location, so I didn’t get the breakfast, but it’s okay, I usually don’t do breakfast. Walked around a little, took some picture near the Inn and find Mr. Serverin’s vehicle and chat a little before we start the class. We check my vehicle out to make sure it’s safe. we follow the Badland’s own check list, but the check list works basic check list for most standard check list for most of the clubs. Then we started the class, and first few Hours are the lectures and afternoon will be off-road driving.
There are three vehicles besides instructor’s highly modified vehicle:
Jeep wrangler – large tires, raised, suspended, changed axels.
2006 Toyota FJ cruiser 4×4- from what I know it’s pretty stock but with a little option
2005 Toyota Tundra 4×4 limit access cab – Just in case you don’t know… that’s mine
Caution:
This class was usually held at Hungry Valley, but due to fire hazzard around the area, Tom hosted at Anza Borrego, also there will be body damage on the vehicles
Links to other useful sites:
Anza-Borrego state park website
Bill Burke’s 4-Wheeling America
Here it goes:
Since we are near dark, so we go for the wash, sands, and easier stuff, but still give some demonstration and different terrains.
Around 7, we finish up and get back to the Inn. We had an excellent rib dinner at Inn, we chatted a little and that’s it for the first day.
Day 2 next.
went to Mojave National preserve for a couple days to go camping, which is great. It’s not quit desert season yet, so I was all alone in the Granite Mountain. No one bother me, and I enjoyed a good while. Also I went to Hole in the wall visitor center which I didn’t take any picture. Since I was there, I went down to the Joshua Tree for a nice short drive,
Since it’s just a short drive there, I went through it pretty quick, so I didn’t take too much pictures
